Fresh Clashes Rock Unity State
On early Sunday, heavy artillery hit opposition-held Tong and Pakur west of Rubkona near Bentiu, signaling a sudden escalation in Unity State’s unstable north.
Residents in Shilak reported dawn explosions, recounting hours of shelling audible across Bentiu’s neighborhoods.
Voices from Rubkona’s Streets
“We woke up to loud explosions from Tong,” a Shilak resident said, requesting anonymity for safety. Another local described families remaining indoors as blasts intensified.
Security sources linked fire toward Tong to positions inside Bentiu, while rounds targeting Pakur appeared to originate from the SSPDF 4th Infantry Division base in Baar.
Humanitarian Stakes Amid Flooded Lands
Large parts of Bentiu and Rubkona remain submerged after months of flooding, confining communities to dykes. Renewed conflict under these conditions could force catastrophic displacement.
Aid workers warn that any mass movement would strain limited shelters perched above waterlines and complicate delivery of food and health services already stretched thin.
Regional Context and Peace Efforts
Unity State’s flare-up follows skirmishes along the Sudan border Saturday, highlighting the fragility of South Sudan’s 2018 peace accord between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
SPLA-IO spokesperson Major Kerbino Yai Pazale confirmed ongoing shelling at 09:30 local time and promised details once safe, while government forces offered no immediate comment.
Observers say sustained dialogue between Juba, military commanders, and local chiefs remains crucial to prevent a slide back into nationwide conflict and protect oil infrastructure vital to state revenue.
Prospects for Calm
Mediation teams from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission are expected in Bentiu this week, aiming to broker a ceasefire and secure humanitarian corridors before seasonal rains deepen logistical challenges.
For residents still counting explosions, swift diplomatic action could decide whether Unity State returns to relative calm or witnesses another cycle of violence and flight.